The Double Dangerous Book for Boys

Formed in 2007. Recruits from the English counties of the ancient kingdom of Mercia. Warrior vehicles, sniper rifles, mortars, machine guns. Motto: STAND FIRM AND STRIKE HARD.

THE ROYAL WELSH

Recruits primarily in Wales. Original regiments raised in 1689. Modern regiment formed in 2006. Warrior vehicles. Sniper rifles, mortars, machine guns. Motto: GWELL ANGAU NA CHYWILYDD – ‘Death before dishonour’. Also: ICH DIEN – ‘I serve’.

THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT

Recruits primarily in Ireland. Raised in 1689. Modern regiment formed in 1992. Motto: FAUGH A BALLAGH – ‘Clear the Way’. Uses vehicle-mounted grenade machine guns as well as SA80 assault rifles. Land Rover and Foxhound vehicles.

L118 field gun of the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

Andrew Chittock/Alamy Stock Photo

ROYAL ARTILLERY – ‘THE GUNNERS’

1ST REGIMENT ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY

Uses AS90 self-propelled artillery and armoured multiple rocket launchers.

3RD REGIMENT ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY

– ‘The Liverpool and Manchester Gunners’. Uses L118 field gun.

4TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY

– ‘The North-East Gunners’. Uses L118 field gun.

5TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY

– ‘The Yorkshire Gunners’. Current role includes Surveillance and target acquisition.

7TH (PARACHUTE) REGIMENT ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY

–‘The Airborne Gunners’. Uses L118 field gun. Serves in Air Assault Brigade.

12TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY

– ‘The Lancashire and Cumbrian Gunners’. Uses STARstreak high velocity missiles.

14TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY

Provides training and support.

16TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY

– ‘The London and Kent Gunners’. Equipped with Rapier surface-to-air missiles.

19TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY

– ‘The Highland Gunners’. AS90 self-propelled and multiple-armoured rocket launchers.

A Thales Watchkeeper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Andrew Chittock/Alamy Stock Photo

26TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY

– ‘The West Midland Gunners’. AS90 and rocket launchers.

29TH COMMANDO REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY

– ‘The Commando Gunners’. Provides artillery support to 3 Commando Brigade.

32ND REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY

– ‘The Wessex Gunners’. Unmanned aerial vehicles: war drones.

47TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY

– ‘The Hampshire and Sussex Gunners’. They operate the Thales Watchkeeper unmanned surveillance and target acquisition system.

THE KING’S TROOP ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY

Ceremonial regiment, based at Woolwich, London. Provides royal gun salutes on celebratory occasions. Uses 13lb WWI-era field guns.

OTHER UNITS

THE RIFLES

Formed in 2007 from much older regiments dating back to 1685. First to wear camouflaged uniforms. 117 Victoria Crosses won. Five battalions, and three more in reserve.

THE ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES

Recruits only in Nepal. Modern regiment formed in 1994, amalgamating four that served the Crown for two hundred years. Based in Brunei and UK. Motto: KAATAR HUNNU BANDA MARNU RAMRO – ‘Better to die than be a coward’.

Andrew Chittock/Alamy Stock Photo

THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT

– ‘The Red Devils’. Formed in 1942. Airborne assault infantry. Motto: UTRINQUE PARATUS – ‘Ready for anything’.

THE SPECIAL AIR SERVICE (SAS)

Special Forces. Founded in 1941. Small team and covert actions. Snipers, stealth and combat. Motto: ‘Who dares wins’.

THE SPECIAL RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT (SRR)

Special Forces. Formed 2005. Surveillance and reconnaissance. Counter-terrorism.